Parachute pack frame and the like



Aprifi 24, 1945 c, EQFF 2,374,274

PARACHUTE PACK FRAME AND THE LIKE I Filed June 8, 1942 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r E 1 m6 if j f INVENTOR. C/d/alfce 4 07? JWK W Apr-ii 24, 1945. c. N. EOFF 2,374,274

PARACI'IUTE PACK IRAME AND THE LIKE Filed JuI i e a, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet? i Q 1 Z& INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 24, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC E PARACHUTE. RACK FRAME AND THELIKE CIarence*N.-' Eoffi, Detroit, Mich, assignor to E. A. Young Spring: and Wire Gunporatiord Detroit; Mich, a. corporation of Michigam Application lime s, 1942,, Serial.No.,446,215

2 Claims. (01. ens-r48 This invention relates to. improvements in parachute. pack frames. and the like...

The. main. objects of this invention are:

First, to. provide a parachute packfr-ame which may be formed of quite light stock. at the. same time onewhichis very rigid and capable of with.- standing severe usage without, danger oi the joints. becoming weakened or loosened. I

Second, to provide astructurehaving. hese a.d vantages which is quite economical to produce and obviates. the necessity ofusing solder.

Objects relating, to details and; economies of theinvention will appear from the description to follow, The. invention. is defined and pointediont in the. claims.

Preferred. embodiments of the invention are illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a. fragmentary perspective view of a parachute pack having one of the frames. oi my invention. embodied therein, the pack being, con.- ventionally illustrated.

Fig.2 is a plan view of asimple and preferred form or embodiment of; my invention.

3. is an. enlarged fragmentary plan view.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in longitudinal section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryview partially broken away and partially in longitudinal section illustrating the structure and manner of assembling the parts of the structure.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line l--'| of Fig. 6.

Fig, 8 is a plan view partially in section of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of another form or embodlment of my invention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of one section or part of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fi 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view in section on line ll-H of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one form of coupling member of sleeve used in the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In the accompanying drawings, I represents a parachute pack and it will be understood that I have merely attempted to show the use of the frame of my invention.

Referring. to Fig. 2, the embodiment of the in vention there illustrated comprises a border member 2 formed of heavy wire or light rod stock of roundsection. This. is. formed. so. as. to. be in efieetendless. being preterably of. one. piece. with the; ends. brought. together in abutting relation asshown at. 3 in. Fig. 6., In this. embodiment, I

provide. four diagonally disposed braces. 4. oi a stock. o'fthe same section as the. border member and. having, end. portions. 5. disposed in. parallel relation to the. sides oi theboltder'memhen, The terminals, 5. of these: Luaeesv are preferably dis.- posed. tol abut.

The; tubular unsplit, coupling members. 6 have walls-of substantial and are oi oral. section so. as. toreceive, the border member and the brace members in side by side relation as. illustrated. They are of. su stantial. length so..- as; t embrace substantial portions of the. border. and brace-members. The. border and. brace. members have. transverse. serrationsfl, on corresponding sides thereof. and. preferably a. number of. such serrationsor. anumber of transversenotches. arrangedlnseriea.

The. bottoms. it or these. serrations orv notches proyide. flattened ortionsso. that when the coupling members are. clamped down. upon the, nortions. at the. border tr'ameand braces. embrace thereby and embedded in the serrations or notches, the coupling members not only serve to prevent the parts pulling apart longitudinally but they serve to prevent twisting movement of the braces or reinforcing members relative to the border frame.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, there are four diagonal braces. They serve to eiiectively support the sides of the border frame and also to prevent wrecking or collapsing movement. Of course, whenthe parts are securedtogether as described, they become in effect one solid frame. The coupling members are longitudinally indented at 9 to provide further clamping engagement upon the connected parts.

Heretofore, so far as applicant is aware, it has been the common practice to solder the frame and brace parts together in structures of this class. The joints under the severe usage to which they are subjected are likely to open up which not only renders the structure useless but it may become dangerous. It is required that the structure shall be very strong and at the same time it is desirable thatit be made of as light stock as possible not only in the matter of economy of materials but also in reducing weight.

My invention enables the making of structures having both these features and also the very rapid production-without the necessity of soldering and the attendant uncertainties.

these members, the inner reaches I6 of which are,

disposed side by side and secured together by coupling members 5. The other reaches of thesereinforcing members are disposed onthe inside of the border frame and secured thereto by clips.

For convenience in manufacture, the str tu 1 5' shown in Fig. 9 is formed of two units designated by the numeral [8 and these are brought together and secured by the coupling member 6, both the border members and'the reinforcing members being provided with the transverse serrations'or notches into which the coupling members are embedded as described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive.

I have illustrated and described my invention in embodiments thereof which have been found satisfactory. It is believed that thedisclosures made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A parachute pack frame comprising a rectangular border member of wire or rod stock of round section, diagonally disposed braces of stock of the same section as the border member havlng end portions disposed on the inner sides of and in parallel relation to the side members of the border member with their ends in abutting relation, and tubular coupling members oblong in cross section and closely embracing the side members of the border member and the end portions of said braces, the plane of the oblong tubular coupling members being substantially parallel to the plane of the rectangular border member, said tubular coupling members being of sheet-like form and unsplit both longitudinally and transversely of the length thereof, portions of the said border member and the said braces embraced by said coupling members having transverse serrations of substantial depth on the sides thereof as are substantially parallel to the plane of the rectangular border member, said coupling members being clamped upon said serrated portions of said border member and clamped upon the serrated abutting end portions of said brace members embraced thereby and embedded into said serrations to prevent relative longitudinal and twisting displacement of said border member and brace members.

2. A parachute pack frame comprising a rectangular border member of metal, diagonally disposed metal braces having end portions disposed in alinement with each other and on the inner sides of and in parallel relation to the side members of the border member, and tubular coupling members oblong in cross section and closely embracing the side members of the border member and the end portions of said braces, the plane of the oblong tubular coupling members being substantially parallel to the plane of the rectangular border member, said tubular coupling members being of sheet-like form and unsplit both longitudinally and transversely of the length thereof, portions of the said border members and the said braces embraced by said coupling members having transverse notches of substantial depth on the sides thereof as are substantially parallel to the plane of the rectangular border member, said coupling members being clamped upon said notched portions of said border member and clamped upon the alinement notched end portions of said brace members embraced thereby and embedded into said notches, the opposed sides of said coupling-members being longitudinally indented between the border member and the brace members.

CLARENCE N. EOFF. 

